Camel Trail

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Padstow and the start of the Camel Trail

The Camel Trail is the most well known multi-use trail in Cornwall. It is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

The trail is 18 miles long, starting at Padstow on the estuary of the River Camel and following the Camel inland to Wadebridge and beyond. From Padstow to Wadebridge is 5 miles, Wadebridge to Bodmin is 5.8 miles and Bodmin to Wenfordbridge is 7.5 miles.

From Wadebridge, the trail follows the course of the River Camel passing by Goff Wood, Polbrock, Grogley Halt, Nanstallon Halt, Boscarne and Nanstallon. At Dunmere, the trail divides into two branches, one going on to Bodmin and the other going to Wenfordbridge via Shell Woods, Tresarrett and Poley's Bridge.

The Wenfordbridge branch of the trail skirts the edge of Bodmin Moor and brings you close to picturesque moorland villages such as Blisland and St Breward.

The Camel Trail is a rare opportunity to enjoy the diversity of the Cornish landscape from the fantastic estuary views near Padstow, the birdwatching habitats along the river as it changes from a large open river to reed beds closer to Wadebridge to wonderful native woodlands of ash, oak, beech, hazel and holly between Wadebridge and Poley's Bridge and rugged granite moorland scenery within easy access of Wenfordbridge.

The Camel Trail follows the course of a now disused railway track. This historic line between Padstow and Wadebridge was opened in 1899 and provided access from London via Launceston in North Cornwall and Okehampton in Devon. The line between Wadebridge and Poley's Bridge is even older, opened in 1834 for transporting sand from the estuary to farms inland for treating the soil.

On the section of the trail between Padstow and Wadebridge you will pass over an old railway bridge, Iron Bridge, spanning the entrance to Little Petherick Creek, pass through an area of old slate quarries with many discarded slates and past the ruins of old buildings at Camel Quarries to Tregunna and the saltings beyond, the habitat of many interesting resident and visiting birds.